EFFECTS OF POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT AND RESPONSE COST COUNSELLING TECHNIQUES ON ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) SYMPTOMS AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN KANO METROPOLIS
EFFECTS OF POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT AND RESPONSE COST COUNSELLING TECHNIQUES ON ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) SYMPTOMS AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN KANO METROPOLIS
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Date
2014-05
Authors
BELLO, Kabir Dungurawa
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Abstract
This study employs a quasi-experiment, pre-test post-test control group design in
investigating the effects of positive reinforcement and response cost counselling
techniques on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms among
primary school pupils in Kano Metropolis. The main objective is to find out whether
positive reinforcement and response cost counselling techniques can be effective in
reducing ADHD symptoms among primary school pupils in Kano Metropolis. Twelve
research questions with corresponding null hypotheses were formulated to guide the
study.The population comprises of 61 ADHD primary five pupils.The sample was 36
(18 male and 18 females) drawn from three public primary schools (Dorayi, Chiranchi
and Rijiyar Zaki). An instrument tagged ‘ADHD Symptoms Checklist’ which is in line
with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorder was adapted and used
for the study. The study lasted for 12 weeks in which 9 children were treated with the
positive reinforcement technique, 9 received the response cost intervention and 18
ADHD pupilsconstituted the control group.Data were analyzed using mean scores for
the research questions, t-test for independent samples was used for hypotheses 1, 2, 3, 4
and 5, t-test for dependent samples for hypotheses 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 andone way
analysis of variance (ANOVA) for hypothesis 6.Finding indicates that positive
reinforcement technique had significantly reduced the symptoms of inattentiveness,
hyperactivity and impulsivity among primary school pupils. Finding also revealed that
response cost counselling techniquesignificantly reduced the symptoms
ofinattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsivity among primary school pupils. Another
finding revealed that the two counselling techniques were found to have similar effects
on inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms reduction. In the case of
male and female respondents treated with the positive reinforcement technique, no
significant difference was observed in the ADHD symptoms scores. On the other hand,
the response cost technique was found to have different effect between male and female
respondents, hence the technique is gender sensitive. Recommendations are made
which include, since the two techniques were found to be effective on inattentiveness,
hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms reduction, school counsellors should utilize the
technique in their counselling practice either through individual or group
counselling.Since the two techniques have no differential effects on inattentiveness,
hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms reduction, teachers and school counsellors
should utilize the technique of positive reinforcement in rewarding desired behaviour
and the response cost technique in punishing unwanted behaviours displayed by pupils
during classroom instruction instead of physical punishment. Also parents training
programs should be developed to increase parenting skills. These should focus on
increasing parents’ skills in managing their children’s behaviour, facilitating social
skills development, and encouraging parents’ positive interaction with their child.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE
STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, THROUGH THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY AND COUNSELLING IN
PARTIAL FULFIMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN
GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING
Keywords
REINFORCEMENT, COUNSELLING, TECHNIQUES, ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) SYMPTOMS, KANO, METROPOLIS